Lively discussion at East Midlands Socialist Party conference

Holding the Socialist Party banner on the 3rd Feb London 'save NHS' demo, photo Mary Finch (Click to enlarge)

Tom Barker, Leicester West Socialist Party

The Socialist Party East Midlands conference on 18 February was a day of lively political discussion, detailing the tasks ahead but also drawing out the lessons of the successful Glenfield and Chatsworth NHS campaigns - led by Socialist Party members.

Socialist Party executive committee member Rob Williams led the opening session on British, where he outlined Corbyn's excellent general election campaign.

But he also warned of the many obstacles that stand in the way of transforming Labour into a mass party of the working class.

The pro-capitalist policies of many Labour councils pose a significant threat to Corbyn's electoral support.

Understandably, they now face the possibility of losing their majority in local elections in May. Selectively standing Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates against the Blairites can play an important role in fighting for Corbyn's anti-austerity programme.

The workshop discussions highlighted the need for members to take every opportunity to build on our successes by recruiting new members.